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Embraer KC-390 – Brazil

Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica), one of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers, received a $1.3bn development order from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for its KC-390 medium-weight military transport jet on 14 April 2009. The new high-wing aircraft is expected to fly in 2014 and enter service by the end of 2016. With the launch of the KC-390, competition in the 20t air transport segment has intensified.

KC-390 rollout ceremony

The first prototype rolled out from the Embraer subsidiary plant, Embraer Defense and Security, at Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo on 21 October 2014, and flew for the first time on 3 February 2015. Source wikipedia.org

KC-390 rollout ceremony – Image: forum.keypublishing.com

Features of the KC-390 will be in compliance with the new National Defence Strategy and meet the needs of the FAB. The new aircraft will replace 22 Lockheed Martin C-130E/H and KC-130 that are currently a part of the FAB.

Embraer KC-390 Makes Its International Debut At Farnborough Airshow:Here

Excerpt

Still in the thick of flight tests, Embraer’s KC-390 multi-mission transport aircraft is flying internationally for the first time on a summer tour of Europe and the Middle East, and making its maiden stop at the Farnborough Airshow.

The KC-390, capable of hauling cargo, refueling aircraft, search and rescue operations and medical evacuation, arrived at the show July 7 where it will be on static display. After leaving Sao Paolo, the aircraft made two stops en route to Portugal, where it spent two days. After its Farnborough debut, the aircraft will move on throughout Europe and the Middle East, where Embraer hopes to generate momentum for international sales. Already Embraer has a firm order of 28 aircraft from the Brazilian air force and commitments from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic and Portugal to buy an additional 32 and hopes to translate information from the visits into additional sales.

Orders and deliveries

National Aeronautical Enterprise Empresa Nacional de Aeronautica (ENAER) of Chile signed a contract with Embraer in August 2010 to jointly build the KC-390 aircraft for the Chilean Air Force (CAF). About six KC-390 will be procured by the CAF.

The Brazilian Air Force expressed its desire to acquire the KC-390 aircraft at the 47th Farnborough International Airshow held in England in July 2010 and signed the series production contract for the aircraft in May 2014.

As part of the R$7.2bn ($3.3bn) contract, the company will supply 28 KC-395 aircraft over a period of ten years. The contract also includes a logistical support package including spare parts and maintenance.

Excerpt

The Brazilian military has awarded Embraer a provisional type certificate for the basic configuration of the KC-390 tanker-transport, a step on the way to achieving initial operational capability with the air force in the second half of 2017.

“Achieving this milestone demonstrates the design maturity that is allowing the tests campaign to progress as planned and with high efficiency,” says Jackson Schneider, president and chief executive of Embraer Defense & Security.

Excerpt

The Portuguese government authorized the Ministry of Defense to begin the process of acquiring five Embraer KC-390 aircraft with purchase option for an aircraft, in addition to its logistical support and flight simulator in a 500 million dollar agreement. In addition to military activities, aircraft will be deployed in firefighting.

KC-390 technical details

The twin-turbofan-powered KC-390 can be refuelled in flight and can be used for in-flight or on-ground refuelling of other aircraft. The new 20t jet is technically advanced and has fly-by-wire technology, which optimises mission results thereby reducing pilot workload. It also helps increase the safety and capability for operating on short and rustic runways.

KC-390 can be refuelled in flight and can be used for in-flight or on-ground refuelling of other aircraft. Fuel probe is above the cockpit. – Image: defenseforces.com

The military aircraft will have a cargo bay equipped with an aft ramp similar to Hercules, and capable of transporting a wide variety of cargo (weighing up to 19t), including armoured vehicles.

@visualoop.comCargo capacity – Image: media.defenceindustrydaily.com

It will be outfitted with state-of-the-art loading and unloading systems for handling cargo.

A study on the KC-390 (earlier named C-390) aircraft was presented at LAAD 2007. The research and development expenses of C-390 were $600m and shared among Embraer and various partners led by the FAB.

The aircraft utlises computed air release point (CARP) technology integrated with fly-by-wire system to provide greater accuracy during air dropping thereby reducing crew workload.

The twin-engine jet-powered Embraer KC-390 also integrates the technological solutions developed for Embraer 190 commercial aircraft. It is expected to carry 84 military personnel and the cargo cabin will be configured for transporting the wounded or sick, on medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions. It will also be used for in-flight refuelling, search and rescue missions.

KC-390 development

The KC-390 is the largest and most complicated aircraft ever undertaken by Embraer. It will also be the Brazilian manufacturer’s first new military product in more than a decade. It is expected to be assembled at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto plant in Brazil.

Considering the delays in the production of Airbus A400M military airlifter and the time taken by Lockheed Martin to achieve full operational capability with the C-130J, both Embraer and its competitors say that developing KC-390 will not be easy.

Although the Brazilian government will be funding, any delay in the development would weaken Embraer’s defence growth.

Excerpt

Embraer Defence and Security has achieved a significant milestone in the KC-390 tactical military tanker and transport aircraft program by demonstrating the Cobham aerial refueling systems installed in KC-390’s prototype 001.

Configured as a tanker for the first time, a KC-390 test aircraft fitted with Cobham 912E wing-mounted pods completed a series of successful flight trials in May 2016.

Cobham 912E Wing Air Refuelling Pods

The fourth generation 900E series pod family represents the most proven solution in probe and drogue air refuelling in operational service today. The advanced features of the 900E series pod provide high levels of performance and flexibility in support of the modern war fighter

Image: cobham.com

Key Features

Highly automated pod using advanced digital management

Exceptional refuelling speed range

Digital Control System provides flexibility to configure and optimise for any tanker/ receiver fleet

Multiple hose-length options up to 90ft trailed

Low weight and low drag

Simple and flexible interfaces

System architecture qualified and proven for helicopters and fast jet refuelling

Boeing and Embraer signed an agreement to co-operate on the KC-390 aircraft programme in 2012.

The FAB and Embraer concluded the Critical Design Review (CDR) of the KC-390 aircraft in March 2013. The definitive aerodynamic and structural configurations as well as the architecture and systems installations were confirmed for the immediate production of the first prototype aircraft with the first flight scheduled in the second half of 2014.

Image: media.defenceindustrydaily.com

Avionics

The avionics include two head-up displays (HUD), self-defence system and night vision goggle (NVG).

Rockwell Collins signed an agreement with EDS in May 2011 to supply its Pro Line Fusion avionics systems for the aircraft. The avionics system will render improved situational awareness and decrease the workload of the pilot.

Embraer awarded a contract to BAE Systems on 27 July 2011 to supply and install flight control electronics in the KC-390 transport aircraft.

Goodrich Corporation will design, build and supply primary flight control systems as part of an agreement signed with Embraer on 27 July 2011. It will supply electro-hydrostatic actuators, electro-backup hydrostatic actuators, actuator electronics and electrical controls.

Gabbiano T20 radar systems

Gabbiano T20 radar system

Selex ES has received a contract from Embraer Defense & Security to provide an undisclosed number of Gabbiano T20 radar systems for the KC-390 transport aircraft procured by the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB). Deliveries will begin this year.

Gabbiano is an X-band radar capable of delivering high accurate ISR, search and rescue and patrol missions on sea, coast and land. Based on a solid-state transmitter, it offers high resolution imagery and superior detection ranges. Gabbiano comes equipped with a suite of modes including air-to-sea surveillance with Track While Scan (TWS), high resolution ground mapping (Spot/Strip-SAR), ship target imaging and classification with ISAR and navigation with ground mapping and weather avoidance. It has been selected by ten international customers. The version of Gabbiano which will equip the KC-390 aircraft incorporates radar modes optimised for military transport aircraft.

The production contract from Embraer follows the earlier selection of the Gabbiano to be part of the KC-390’s baseline. The aircraft, which flew for the first time in February, is projected to play an important role in the international tactical airlift market with several countries having confirmed firm and option orders and sales campaigns ongoing all around the world.

Engines

International Aero Engines (IAE) was chosen by Embraer on 25 July 2011 to design, develop, supply and install V2500-E5 powerplant in the KC-390 aircraft. IAE is a consortium formed by Rolls-Royce, United Technologies Unit, Pratt & Whitney and Japanese Aero Engine Corp.

V2500-E5 powerplant

V2500-E5 powerplant – Image: aereo.jor.br

International Aero Engines has shipped to Embraer the first six V2500-E5 engines, which will power Embraer’s KC-390 multi-role tanker and transport.

IAE, which is majority owned by Pratt & Whitney, says the engines will be used for flight tests that will start in 2014. Embraer is scheduled to deliver the first certificated KC-390 to the Brazilian air force in 2016.

P&W expects civilian certification of the engine will be achieved in the third quarter of this year.

The engines were assembled at P&W’s facility in Middletown, Connecticut, then shipped to parent company UTC’s aerostructures plant in Foley, Alabama, for installation of nacelles, thrust reverses and other equipment, says Pratt.

Rated at 31,300lb-thrust, Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force chose the V2500-E5 in July 2011.

The selection by Embraer of the V2500-E5 comes as P&W expects to wind down production of the type in the next five years.

The company tells reporters on 20 May that V2500 deliveries will fall as deliveries of its newest engine, the PurePower geared-turbofan, ramps up.

The geared turbofan will power Airbus A320neos, Bombardier CSeries, Embraers family of second-generation E-Jets and Mitsubishis regional jet.

IAE delivered the first three prototype V2500-E5 powerplants for Embraer’s new KC-390 aircraft in early 2014 and the remaining three in May of the same year. The civil certification for the new engine model is scheduled for third quarter 2014. “IAE shipped first KC-390 engines to Embraer” posted May 20, 2014 Source flightpress.aero

Technical data

APS2600[E] APU

Pratt & Whitney AeroPower’s* APS2600[E] auxiliary power unit (APU) has been selected by Embraer for its second generation E-Jet. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.

“We are delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with Embraer and provide our APS2600[E] APU for the second generation E-Jet,” said Eileen P. Drake, vice president and general manager, Pratt & Whitney AeroPower. “The APS2600[E] APU provides exceptional value to customers by providing increased electric power capability, both on the ground and in flight, a significantly higher operating altitude, and world-class reliability.” Source pw.utc.com

Landing gear

ELEB Equipamentos will design, manufacture and supply landing gear system for the aircraft as part of a contract signed with EDS in March 2011.

It will build a rugged and reliable system that enables the aircraft to operate with heavy payloads and land even in semi-prepared airfields. The KC-390 will be equipped with a double chamber shocker absorber system and modern hydraulic systems.

Performance

The KC-390 can fly to a maximum altitude of 10,973m. Its maximum speed is 980km/h. The normal and ferry range of the aircraft are 2,590km and 6,000km respectively. The aircraft weighs around 23,600kg and its maximum take-off weight is 74,400kg.